Not having a college degree isn’t the end of the world as there are jobs you can get hired to do with decent pay – general labor jobs. These general labor jobs can be done by anyone as long as you are fit, handy, and ready to work.
There are additional requirements you might need to meet to become a general laborer or to get general labor jobs, and this article will explain them all.
We will also give you a list of general jobs and what they pay by the hour, and also explain how you can get any of these general labor jobs. Stay with me.
Meanwhile, below is the table of content for an idea of what else to expect from this piece.
Table of contents
What is General Labor?
General labor is a physically demanding, hands-on job that requires little formal education. This category includes a wide range of vocations, although the majority of general labor positions are in the manufacturing, logistics, construction, cleaning, and related industries.
The average hourly pay for a general laborer in the US is $13.81, according to Indeed. There is a broad variety, though, with some jobs earning significantly more depending on the position and factors including location, experience, and talents.
How To Get A General Labor Job
The majority of general labor jobs don’t call for a lot of education. A high school diploma or GED plus the creation of a résumé are frequently sufficient to land an entry-level position. To increase your chances of finding employment, you should work on the following skills:
- Physical fitness. You can get ready for professions that require heavy physical labor by improving your physical stamina, balance, and strength, which includes carrying heavy tools and machines.
- Teamwork. Working as a team is a need for the majority of general labor positions, therefore interpersonal skills and rapport-building are important.
- Communication skills. General laborers must be able to communicate with other team members. Although certain employees in the United States don’t require fluency in the language, many do. Being multilingual is unquestionably advantageous.
Other Things You To Know About General Labor Jobs
You might need to possess additional technical knowledge or abilities for some occupations, such as carpentry or machine maintenance abilities. However, when you advance from entry-level general labor employment, you may frequently pick up these abilities on the job.
Examine the qualifications part of a few job listings to determine what abilities, credentials, and experience employers are seeking in candidates for more advanced positions.
To become a shop foreman, for instance, you could need welding expertise, familiarity with shop equipment, and several years of work in a plant or machine shop. Your resume can stand out if you have laborer certifications from the National Association of Safety Professionals or a comparable organization.
No matter what position you are applying for, you will need to make a résumé and complete the hiring procedure. You can list volunteer work if you don’t have any work experience or recent work experience.
Try to use any relevant terms from the job description, especially any necessary talents you possess. Remember to double-check your resume for frequent errors like misspelled terms and contact information.
You will be contacted for an interview if the hiring manager is interested in you as a candidate. If you can, do some preliminary research on the business and prepare responses to frequently asked interview questions.
General Labor Job Description Sample
You may get a decent idea of what businesses are looking for when hiring for this position by using this general labor job description sample. Keep in mind that every employer is different and will require various qualifications while filling a General Labor position.
Job Summary
We are seeking a skilled, reliable general laborer to join our growing company. In this position, you will be responsible for assisting contractors, operating heavy machinery, and following all site health and safety regulations. A strong work ethic and attention to detail are essential.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Unload tools, prepare building site materials, stack building materials, and set up equipment
- Follow project instructions from the construction manager or supervisor
- Consult with construction plans
- Direct traffic safely around the construction or road maintenance site
- Use construction and maintenance tools and equipment to complete daily tasks
- Follow all health and safety regulations when operating equipment
- Ensure regulated and proper headgear, earplugs, gloves, safety glasses, and clothing are worn
- Complete all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner
- Assist in building scaffolding and temporary structures
- Safely operate a variety of tools including pressure washers, jackhammers, drills, saws, grinders, and blowtorches
- Prepare new construction sites by digging, moving dirt, or compacting space
- Provide assistance to contractors (i.e. craft workers, electricians, painters) as needed
- Clean and clear debris and hazardous materials
- Ensure construction equipment and tools are cleaned and stored properly
Requirements and Qualifications
- High school degree or equivalent educational experience; vocational school or trade apprenticeships a plus
- State licensure to work with hazardous materials preferred but not required; union certification preferred but not required
- Must be 18 years of age
- Ability to physically stand, bend, squat, and lift up to 40 pounds
- Must be comfortable climbing up tall ladders, working at elevated levels
- Positive attitude and work ethic
- Able to work independently or as an active member of a team
- Excellent interpersonal skills and communication with all levels of management
- English and Spanish fluency a plus
This general labor job description like many others would help you know if you’re qualified, fit, and interested in the job. If you are. submitting your resume to the employer’s address would be the next step to take.
What Are Different Types of General Labor Jobs?
There are many different types of General Labor jobs, particularly in warehouses, construction, and manufacturing. Early-career General Laborers typically perform basic tasks such as cleaning job sites or lifting and moving equipment and materials.
More experienced General Laborers get to work with specialized tools and equipment to perform more complex tasks, like operating forklifts, saws, grinders, blowtorches, and other machinery.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
According to the predictions of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction laborer jobs will increase by about 5 percent from 2019-2029, which is faster than average. As of May 2019, construction laborers earned an average yearly salary of $36,860, per BLS reports.
20 Popular General Labor Jobs (And Their Average Pay)
1. Production Worker Jobs: $13.19
Production employees use machinery in a factory or warehouse and get goods ready for delivery. They can solder, drill, weld, and install components by hand or using power tools. To ensure it functions properly, they also keep an eye on the warehouse equipment.
They could be in charge of packing things for delivery and attaching labels and other details to finished products, depending on the task.
2. Picker/Packer Jobs: $10.24/hour
Packers label packages, stack goods, sanitize shipping containers and pack things for transportation. To guarantee that the shipping procedure goes smoothly, they must handle shipments with extreme organization and attention to detail.
3. Custodian/Janitor Jobs: $12.20/hour
Buildings are kept spotless by custodians, including all rooms and restrooms. They employ a range of cleaning techniques, including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and trash collection. They frequently lock the doors and windows to secure the structure. Because of how they work to stop the spread of diseases, the custodial staff is particularly crucial during a pandemic.
4. Warehouse Associate Jobs: $12.94/hour
Associates in the warehouse receive and process supplies and items. They are in charge of assembling orders, setting up inventory, locating lost or broken goods, and keeping a tidy and secure workplace. Additionally, they deliver goods to the loading dock at the shipping center.
5. Forklift Operator Jobs: $14.78/hour
Forklift drivers move bulky products through factories, storage facilities, building sites, and warehouses using forklifts or industrial trucks. They stack goods and load and unload cargo onto big pallets. The majority of forklift drivers report to a warehouse or supply chain manager.
6. Dock Worker Jobs: $33,370/year
Cargo from ships must be unloaded by dock employees. Installing gangways, loading products onto pallets, maintaining the dock area’s cleanliness, and operating forklifts are among the typical tasks. Additionally, dock staff examine the cargo and note any lost or damaged products.
7. Restoration/Mitigation Technician Jobs: $15.15/hour
In order to repair and restore properties that have been harmed by water, fire, storms, vandalism, and other calamities, restoration experts conduct water mitigation operations. They assess the damages on the scene, construct moisture mapping, make a drying record, and give the estimator documentation that will be filed for approval to the insurance company.
8. Carpenter Jobs: $20.73/hr
Carpenters construct, erect, and fix architectural elements such counters, cabinets, showers, tubs, and vanities. Before starting the building process, they collaborate with clients to generate drafts and prepare drawings of their plans. Choosing and evaluating materials, adhering to constructing designs, installing and leveling framework with rigging hardware, measuring and shaping materials, and adhering to code standards are other job needs.
9. Farm laborer Jobs: $13.56/hour
Crops and animals are taken care of by farm laborers. They frequently assist with crop inspection and picking, as well as plowing, fertilizing, and operating agricultural equipment. Farm workers frequently operate equipment including tractors, wheelbarrows, and fertilizer sprayers.
10. Bakery Worker Jobs: $12.22/hour
Workers in bakeries create bread and related culinary items. They maintain a constant production process while adhering to tight food safety regulations including counting, sorting, and visually inspecting bakery products.
Work in the bakery frequently involves reaching, lifting, moving, stacking, and other manual labor activities. Some employers favor applicants who have previous experience working on a production line.
11. Order Filler Jobs: $13.68
Order takers collaborate with warehouse staff to manage orders and guarantee that clients receive their goods. They take the delivered goods, unpack them, inspect them for damage, and then move them to their next location. Additionally, they organize inventory and track any late or missing shipments.
12. Package Handler Jobs: $33,584 per year
Boxes are loaded and unloaded onto trucks during the warehouse delivery procedure by package handlers. It takes a lot of physical power to push and lift all sizes and weights of parcels in this employment. To prevent damage, package handlers must be cautious when handling packages and adhere to corporate standards.
13. Maintenance Specialist Jobs: $17.37/hour
Buildings and equipment are maintained by maintenance professionals. They frequently fix issues with HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems in addition to other parts of buildings. To carry out their jobs, maintenance experts need to have some understanding of the systems they operate on.
14. Tree Climber/Trimmer Jobs: $21.66/hour
To cut extra or dead branches and clear branches away from power cables, tree climbers scale trees. While the task can be strenuous, climbers typically do not need to climb trees by hand. Instead, they frequently employ climbing hooks, ropes, or ladders. Usually, formal training is not a need for tree trimmers.
15. Arborist Jobs: $22.72/hour
Arborists plan park layouts and take care of trees. In addition to maybe directing a staff, their duties frequently involve trimming, pruning, fertilizing, cabling, and bracing shrubs and trees.
Depending on local regulations, some companies demand that arborists hold a qualification in landscape architecture or a related subject, while many occupations just call for on-the-job training to teach new arborists how to use the equipment. Before transitioning to other, related occupations, many arborists begin their careers as tree climbers.
16. Gardener Jobs: $13.33/hour
On private property or in public spaces, gardeners tend to gardens. They are responsible for planning the garden’s horticulture, watering plants, weeding, pruning, mowing lawns, and raking leaves. The objective is to preserve a beautiful, healthy green area for spectators. While some gardeners focus solely on aesthetics, others cultivate veggies and herbs.
17. Landscape Technician Jobs: $14.71/hour
Green places including gardens, parks, and greenhouses are maintained by landscape technicians and groundskeepers. They work on non-plant elements of the landscape, such as driveways, patios, and walls, as well as common gardening activities like watering plants and fertilizing lawns.
18. Irrigation Technician Jobs: $17.59/hour
To maintain plants well-watered, irrigation specialists oversee the irrigation systems in parks, gardens, and other outdoor areas. They lay up irrigation zones, set up and manage the required timers, pumps, and valves, dig trenches, test equipment, and do maintenance inspections.
19. Traffic Control Flagger Jobs: $11.68/hour
The movement of vehicles around road construction zones is managed by flaggers. They set up traffic cones and barricades, post warning and detour signs, alert the construction crew to potential safety risks, and guide traffic around construction zones.
20. Pool Technician Jobs: $15.06/hour
Public swimming pools are maintained by pool technicians by keeping them clean and well-maintained. They check for damage, clean the filters, clean the water, and report any problems they detect. Pool technicians must also fix pool lights and keep track of stock. They may occasionally assess the performance of other employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a General Laborer do?
General laborers are in charge of a variety of manual duties like trenching, unloading construction supplies, and setting up job sites. They operate machines while using hand tools like shovels or picks to aid in their work and help teams with other important duties.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a General Laborer?
General Laborers do a variety of tasks, depending on their location and the other crew members assigned to their project. They help with a variety of jobs, including loading tools, packing raw materials, working on numerous construction sites, or carrying out warehousing responsibilities.
What makes a good General Laborer?
Given that they must perform a variety of tasks in factories, building sites, and warehouses, excellent general laborers must be physically fit. They must also work independently and adhere to directions.
Who does a General Laborer work with?
In order to execute particular jobs, general laborers often collaborate with a small group of other laborers. Depending on the project and the demands of the crew, they could collaborate with other professionals and construction workers on the job site.
